MLB chief responds to 'wildly inappropriate' question about Donald Trump stance
MLB chief responds to 'wildly inappropriate' question about Donald Trump stance
Sian JonesWed, July 15, 2026 at 3:13 PM UTC
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The MLB is negotiating with the players association over a new collective bargaining agreement -Credit:Getty Images
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred stopped short of ruling out the possibility of President Donald Trump becoming involved in Major League Baseball's ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
With MLB's current CBA set to expire in December, concerns are growing over the state of negotiations, with the league and the MLB Players Association reportedly still some distance apart on several key issues.
Labor talks have become a major talking point across professional sports in recent years. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has regularly addressed the issue, while WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert oversaw the completion of a new agreement in March, just 17 months after players opted out of the previous deal.
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Trump has become an increasingly prominent figure in the political and sporting landscape, with his influence extending into major issues beyond the field of play.
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Earlier this summer, Trump was linked to FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension ahead of the United States' World Cup last-16 clash with Belgium, further highlighting his involvement in high-profile sporting matters.
As MLB's CBA negotiations continue without a breakthrough, questions have emerged over whether the White House could become involved in the process. While no such move has been proposed, Manfred has notably stopped short of dismissing the possibility outright.
“Look, I think it would be wildly, wildly inappropriate for me to speculate what the President of the United States might do or not do in a hypothetical situation,” Manfred said when asked whether he believed Trump could become involved in the negotiations. "We know this. He’s a great sports fan, and he is really knowledgeable about the business of sports, so it doesn’t surprise me. He’s interested, but behind that, I’m going to pass.”
Manifred failed to deny whether Trump could become involved in the MLB's CBA negotiations -Credit:AFP via Getty Images
As MLB prepares for the second half of the season following the All-Star break, attention is increasingly turning away from the field and towards the league's looming collective bargaining negotiations.
Collective bargaining has shaped the sport since MLB introduced its first CBA 58 years ago, but this latest round of negotiations could prove among the most significant yet. According to reports, owners submitted a new proposal on May 28 that includes a renewed push for a salary cap system. MLB remains the only major North American sports league without a salary cap, and club owners are believed to feel the current financial structure no longer reflects the soaring valuations of franchises across the league.
Manfred acknowledged that baseball is in a strong position commercially but argued that introducing a salary cap is essential to maintaining the sport's long-term health. He also insisted there is unanimous support among owners for the proposal, claiming every franchise would be prepared to share local television revenues if a salary cap system were introduced.
Under such a model, big-market teams such as the Dodgers, who reportedly generate around $330 million annually from local TV deals, would redistribute a portion of that income to smaller-market franchises like the Brewers, whose local broadcasting revenue is estimated to be closer to $20 million per year.
Source: “AOL Sports”
